Game Preview: Nuggets at Trail Blazers

The Nuggets will look to continue their hot streak as they take on the division rival Trail Blazers.

After last season, it is safe to say these two teams do not particularly care for each other. After the Trail Blazers snatched the final playoff spot from the Nuggets’ finger tips, Denver is going to be looking for some sweet revenge. They have the personnel this year to do it as well. Denver has a somewhat new look and modified roster with the newly added veteran All-Star, Paul Millsap helping Nikola Jokic man the paint whereas the Trail Blazers did not really do anything to get better or worse in the off season. They just kind of stayed the same. Sometimes this is okay, but with the way the West got better this year, it will probably come back to bite them. Denver is currently at the top of the Northwest Division and they will come out aggressive wanting to prove something to the rival who they were in an intense battle with last season. Portland will try to utilize their two stars on the perimeter in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to stretch the Nuggets defense, so Denver will have to be ready to get their hands up for a lot of three point attempts. However, Denver’s back court with Emmanuel Mudiay and Jamal Murray has been solid over the past week at the point guard position. If they can keep up this hot streak, then the Nuggets will be in a good position. Especially on the road. Nikola Jokic will have something to prove as he will be matched up with the former Nugget, Jusuf Nurkic, which many fans will be analyzing. All in all, this is shaping up to be a very pivotal division match up between two young teams.